Gustavsson, Tore

Swedish actors adoption of the tobacco directive : A study from a 'Goodness of fit- perspective' about Swedish actors adoption of the tobacco directive 2014/40/EU (English)

Abstract [en]

The purpose of this study is to see how Swedish actors adopt directive 2014/40/EU and why it is adopted the way it is - with the example of the Swedish government, Swedish Match and Tobaksfakt, based on the actors input into the European Commission's proposal.

The study's three research questions are: 1) How does the selected actors influence the tobacco directive 2014/40/EU? 2) In what way do the selected actors adopt the 2014/40/EU tobacco directive 3) Why are directive 2014/40/EU adopted in the way proposed? The study's approach is through a 'Goodness of fit- perspective' see first the actors position then compare this to the new law. In this way see how they are going to adopt the directive. An analyze on argument of three Swedish contributions to the revision of the previous tobacco directive and a comparative analyze will be the methods.

The conclusion of the study is that the Swedish government and Swedish Match have influenced in some parts and Tobaksfakta have influenced in most of the parts. The study also concludes that the directive 2014/40/EU will be received with adaptation and absorption into Sweden's politics and policy's. Why it is received in this way has to do with the exception that Sweden holds from the ban of oral tobacco in EU but this conclusion can't be fully stated. The Swedish snus's outside has been changed but the inside has not, this effects the pressure from EU to be milder.

Aspects and areas which further research can focus on are the following: to include different actors, documents or areas throughout the decision process. Further research can also focus on the discourse around snus.